Foot Cleaning Device with Elongate Handle that Allows for Pivotal Motion

ABSTRACT

A foot brush assembly that includes a planar base member and a removable loofa base pad that is attached to the base member and a elongate handle, wherein the base member and handle are attached in a manner that allows the base member to pivot with respect to the handle and therefore allow the base member to be oriented horizontally for use or vertically to facilitate drainage of liquids from the device. When in a horizontal position the user can use the handles to stabilize the base member and help the user maintain balance. In embodiments a liquid soap dispenser is provided that introduce soap onto the loofa surface. In further embodiments a brush is also included with the device.

The Applicant claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. ApplicationNo. 62/061,139 filed Oct. 8, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The foot is difficult to massage and clean, particularly for individualswho, because of age or other infirmity, have difficulty bending orreaching over sufficiently to manually massage or cleanse their feet.While many foot brush or Loofah assemblies have been proposed, they havemet with limited success for a number of reasons including, but notlimited to, their cost in terms of both purchase and manufacture, theircomplexity, their bulkiness, and the inability to clean the componentsafter use. It would thus be desirable to provide a foot cleaning devicewhich is economical to manufacture and purchase, simple to use, compact,and which includes components which will dry after use, and is easy toclean after use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Loofah foot cleaning device according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention comprises a base member, a Loofah pad affixed tothe base member and an elongate handle that is attached to the basemember to allows for pivotal movement of the base member with respect tothe handle. The base member includes a seat region that receives andretains the Loofah pad. In embodiments, the base member has a bottomplanar panel surrounded by a frame member. The bottom planar membersupports the Loofah member and is provided with a plurality of aperturesto allow for drainage of the Loofah. In embodiments the top surface ofthe Loofah may be provided with a texture to increase friction on thefoot. In further embodiments, the base member may also have ridges orother textured surface sufficient to increase friction between the padand base member and restrict the movement of the Loofah in response tomovement of a user's foot on the top surface of the Loofah.

In embodiments, the Loofah pad is seated within a base member and thebase member surrounds all sides of the pad. The Loofah may be attachedto the base member using a variety of techniques including a simplefrictional fit, fasteners including elastic straps that are on the basemember. In further embodiments a removable bridge pad that can beprovided that arches over the pad to provide for the engagement with thetop of the foot. In yet further contemplated embodiments (not shown),the device further includes a brush members that extend from the frameelement and provide for enhanced massaging and cleaning action.

As discussed above, in an embodiment a Loofah member is retained by aplurality of elastic straps which extend around the base member forremovably securing the base pad to the base member. The foot is placedon and brushed against the top of the Loofah pad to massage and cleanthe bottom of the foot.

In embodiments, a bridge member is releasably snapped over the top ofthe base member adjacent a front wall of the base member. The bridgemember and base member define a foot receiving cavity. Both the base padand the bridge pad are preferably made of a sponge-like Loofah materialwhich is soft for use on the skin. Because the pad can pivot it enhancesthe Loofah ability to rapidly dry after use thus resisting mildew andthe growth of other micro-organisms. The base pad and the bridge pad maybe removed from the base member and the bridge member respectively forcleaning or replacement thus mitigating undesirable growth of mildew andother micro-organisms which may result from the repeated use.

Additional advantages and features of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a first embodiment of a device accordingto the invention that depicts the Loofah pad in engagement with the basemember.

FIG. 2 is perspective view of the first embodiment of a device accordingto the invention with the Loofah member removed.

FIG. 3 is perspective view of the first embodiment of a device accordingto the invention with the base member oriented in a vertical direction.

FIG. 4 is perspective view of the first embodiment of a device accordingto the invention with the base member oriented in a vertical direction.

FIG. 5 is perspective view of the further embodiment of a deviceaccording to the invention with a foot operated soap dispenser.

FIG. 6 is perspective view of the further embodiment of a deviceaccording to the invention with a control of a soap dispenser on theupright handle.

FIG. 7 is a perspective exploded view of a Loofah and support memberthat can be used with embodiments of the device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective exploded view of an alternative Loofah andsupport member that can be used with embodiments of the device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view of yet an alternative Loofah thatcan be used with embodiments of the device.

FIG. 10 is a side partial view of a foot in engagement with a Loofahaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention depictedin an enclosed shower.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of thedevice.

FIG. 14 is a side view in elevation of the embodiment depicted in FIG.13

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now referring to FIG. 1 according to a first embodiment of theinvention, the device 101 includes elongate handle 105 and a base member106. The base member includes frame elements 108, 109, 110 and 111 thatsurround Loofah pad 115. Handle 105 includes lateral arms 119 and 120that engage pins provided on opposite sides of the device such as pin130 that extends through the arms and into the base member. Pin 130provides for pivotal movement of the base member 106 with respect to thehandle so that the base member 106 can be folded upwardly and bepositioned in a vertical orientation and substantially parallel with thehandle 105 when the device is not in use. The handle 105 provides forthe stability of both the device as the user engages his or her foot onthe pad 115 and helps maintain the user's balance as the user places hisor her weight on one foot while the opposite foot engages the pad.

Now referring to FIG. 2, the pad 115 of device 101 has been removed anda support member 205 is depicted in a folded position. Support member205 supports the Loofah pad and is provided with a plurality of holes214 that assist in drainage when the base member is in a horizontalplane that is parallel with the floor such as a support surfaceconsisting of a shower floor or bathtub floor. FIG. 3 depicts the devicewherein base member 106 has been folded upwardly. The support member 205is in a plane that is perpendicular to the floor or support member andparallel with the handle 105. The arm member 25 is able to pivot on pin150 to either an upright position or down position. FIG. 4 depicts thedevice including handle 105 with the Loofah removed and the base member106 in an open position.

As described herein, the Loofah is provided with drainage outletsthrough the support member when the device in use. When the user isfinished using the device, the based member may be pivoted upwardswhereas the Loofah changes from a horizontal plant to a vertical plane.When in a vertical plane, the Loofah take up less room and the drying isenhanced. In by putting the based member in an upright position allowsboth sides of the device to be exposed to air.

Now referring to FIG. 5, in an alternative embodiment of the device, asoap dispenser is provided that includes receptacle 585 for liquid soap.Receptacle 585 is retained in place by collar 581 that extends fromhandle 502. The bottom of the receptacle rests on platform 515 that isattached to handle 502. In alternative embodiments, the receptacle isattached to handle 502 using a strap, clamps or appropriate hardware. Inthe embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 soap may be dispensed toward surface550 that is comprised of the Loofah material through nozzle 590. Theuser can operate the dispenser by application of pressure on foot pump599 that forces air through passage 595 and into the receptacle 585.Soap is displaced from the receptacle and travels through conduit 589through collar 592 and out the nozzle 590. The nozzle 590 can pivot tocontrol the location that the soap is displaced on the Loofah and can bepivoted out of the way and toward the arms 575 or 580 side so as to notinterfere with folding the base member 501 upwards in a verticalorientation and in a position that is substantially parallel with handle502. Like other embodiments described herein the base member can pivotabout a pin member 505.

Referring now to FIG. 6, in a further embodiment of the invention, thesoap dispenser 654 includes a passage 655 that is route inside handle672 through passage 614. The conduit runs through a hollow handle 672 toa pump device 690 that is designed to force air into the receptacle 654to displace soap. Soap is dispensed from nozzle 650 to Loofah pad 607.The base member 601 may pivot on member 605 to be positioned in anupright position.

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment wherein Loofah 701 is provided with aseries of peaks such as peak 705 and valleys such as valley 710 andwhich is supported on a base member 720. Base member 720 is received ina frame member such as those described in the preceding embodiments.FIG. 8 depicts an alternative Loofah 815 that has an upper surface 820characterized by a plurality of pyramid shaped members such as member625 and 826. Like previous embodiments the Loofah is supported by a basemember 820 that has a plurality of apertures such as aperture 820 fordrainage and to enhance drying. FIG. 9 depicts a further Loofah element901 with spherical shaped members such as 916 and 915 that are designedto engage and massage the foot. This embodiment includes a supportmember that also has spherical shaped members that support the Loofahmember and help keep the Loofah in a fixed position when a user's footis engaged against it.

Now referring to FIG. 10, a side view in elevation with the handle notshown is depicted showing a foot 1001 engaged against a Loofah pad 100that is supported by element of the base member 1009. FIG. 11 depictsyet a further embodiment of the invention including base member 1105 andupright handle 1115. Arm 1120 extends from handle 115 and engages pin1130 inside frame element 1150. Like the previous elements, the basemember can pivot on member 1130 with respect to the arm 1120 and rotateupwardly toward the handle 1115. A user can engage Loofah member 1131 toclean and massage the foot. Now referring to FIG. 12, in a contemplatedembodiment the device 1220 is depicted within a shower enclosure 1215.

FIGS. 13 and 14 depict further embodiment of the invention that includesa bridge member 1340 for engagement of the top of the foot. The bridgemember is provide with a Loofah material on the inside surface 1315 ofbridge member 1340 to engage the top of a foot. In alternativeembodiment a brush member may be provided on this surface. Thisembodiment includes upright handle 1305 and base member 1315 thatreceived Loofah base member 1310. Opposite side rails of base member1315 are provided with opposite channels such as channel 1310 and 1315.As seen in FIG. 14 the channels receive the arms of handle 1305 when thedevice is folded and the base member is in the same plane as the handle.

1. A foot cleaning assembly comprising a base member and an elongatehandle, said base member adapted to receive a cleaning part, and whereinsaid handle is pivotally attached to said base member to allow theassembly to move from a first position wherein said handle substantiallyperpendicular to said base member to a second position wherein said basemember is moved upward and substantially parallel to said elongatehandle.
 2. The foot cleaning assembly of claim 1 wherein said basemember includes a laterals sidewall and a rear wall and a bottom memberand said bottom member is adapted to receive said cleaning part andengages and retains said cleaning part.
 3. The foot cleaning assembly ofclaim 2 wherein said bottom member is a provided with apertures to allowfor fluid flow through said member.
 4. The foot cleaning assemblyrecited in claim 1 wherein said cleaning member comprises a loofah. 5.The foot cleaning assembly recited in claim 1 further comprising aliquid soap dispenser.
 6. The foot cleaning assembly recited in claim 1wherein said liquid soap dispenser further comprising a pump device andsaid pump device is operable from a location near the top of saidelongate handle.
 7. The foot cleaning assembly recited in claim 1further comprising: a said bridge member secured to lateral side of saidbase member and spanning the top of said base member to define a footreceiving passage, said bridge member including an outer surface and aninner surface; a bridge cleaning member disposed over the inner surfaceof said bridge member so that when the foot is inserted in said passage,the top of the foot can be massaged or cleaned by contacting the top ofthe foot against the bridge pad.
 8. The foot cleaning assembly recitedin claim 7 wherein said cleaning member and bridge pad comprises aloofah.
 9. The foot cleaning assembly recited in claim 7 wherein saidelongate handle is attached to said bridge member.